'The rich kid of the neighbourhood': Shoaib Akhtar goes viral discussing India’s World Cup Dominance

While the Indian dressing room was drenched in champagne and festivity, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar was busy breaking the internet with a hilarious, yet biting, metaphor of India’s 96-run demolition of New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026 final. Chatting on the famous talk show ‘Game On Hai’, the "Rawalpindi Express" compared the current Indian team to the stereotypical "wealthy brat" of a local neighbourhood who owns the game just because he possesses the bat and ball.

"Invite them just to beat them"

Akhtar’s remarks came as the panel, including legends like Sana Mir and Saqlain Mushtaq, debated India’s clinical performance in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

"India has become like that rich kid in the neighbourhood," Akhtar gagged.

"He invites all the 'poor kids' from the locality to come and play cricket, but he has already decided that only he is allowed to win. India is doing the same to us. Out of the teams left, they beat everyone and then say, 'Lo, main jeet gaya' (Look, I've won again)."

The metaphor was fulfilled with roars of laughter from the fellow panellists, but Akhtar quickly transitioned from humour to high credit for India’s structural domination.

Read also: 'I want to win...' - Hardik Pandya reveals trophy ambition after India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph.

Praise for the "Gambhir risk" and Samson’s maturity

Despite the repartee, Akhtar credited India’s third T20 World Cup title to a rock-solid system and the bold administration of Head Coach Gautam Gambhir.

Akhtar stated that Gambhir took a huge risk by including Sanju Samson as a core pillar of the XI.

"Samson is very mature now. He showed why merit matters," Akhtar commented, referring to Samson's record-breaking run of fifties in the knockouts, which also made the second Indian batter alongside Virat Kohli to score fifties in semi-finals and final of the same T20 World Cup.

Akhter also poured praise on Abhishek Sharma, who scored the fastest fifty of this edition of the tournament last night. While he called the young opener "young and brash," he accepted that India’s capacity to blood new talent like Abhishek while moving on from legends like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is "ominous" for the rest of the world.

The former Pakistani pacer also acknowledged that BCCI not only have the power and money, but they also know how to use the money to better the system of domestic cricket.

"It is a testament to their policies and merit. In many places, money isn't utilised properly, but India guarantees the right players get the chances," he added.

Read also: INDvsNZ, T20 WC Final: India repeat and create history, defeating every odd in Ahmedabad.

How to watch the India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2026 final match online?

Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2026 final match on JioHotstar, accessible via OTTplay Premium.